Peak Arvydas Sabonis rank vs NBA centers

rand · Post #1 » by **rand** » Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:25 am

Without knowing what era your team was in or which other players you have, how many NBA centers at their peak all-time would you pick over peak (international) Arvydas Sabonis?

Of course there are difficulties in answering this question but that's part of the fun.

HeartBreakKid · Post #2 » by **HeartBreakKid** » Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:35 am

Peak all time I think I would take

Russell
Chamberlain
Abdul-Jabar
S O'Neal
Olajuwon
Walton
Jokic
Robinson
Embiid?

Duncan *

So with Duncan included as a center not quite top ten. I'm not positive on Embiid, kind of threw him in there without looking into it but I've been high on him in the past in POY.

I'll give him a slight edge and benefit of the doubt over Malone and Ewing. I project them at similar levels (peak wise). If someone said Ewing was a top 10 peak center I'd probably say yeah more or less.

So...borderline top ten guy? I'll vote fewer than 10.

Post #3 » by **penbeast0** » Sun Mar 12, 2023 7:08 am

I'd add Mikan to that list, plus Gilmore 75, Ewing, Moses, Howard just off the top of my head. I think Sabonis could have been better than those guys, he had more tools and the great size, I just don't think he was pushed hard enough to develop fully in Europe. Moses was far more limited but he just seemed to dominate more in his peak years; from what I understand, Sabonis tended to coast as the European leagues weren't even up to ABA standards. I didn't see him there though so it's hard to judge.

IdolW0rm · Post #4 » by **IdolW0rm** » Sun Mar 12, 2023 11:22 pm

Unreal combination of mobility, size, athleticism and IQ. A true two-way unicorn with elite impact on both ends of the floor. A 7'3 Bill Walton of sorts.
Got to see him a lot during his time in Spain, but he was already a couple of steps slower and sturdier by the early 90's. Still very very good though.
That being said, it's impossible to compare him to other NBA peaks. Context matters alot.
He could have been as high as Hakeem conceivably, but we'll never know.
I should say that by eye-test alone, I'm only comfortable having Shaq and Dream above him. He's as talented and skilled as any big man ever, Jokic included.